Eugenio Chacarra took a commanding lead at the DP World India Championship on Saturday after posting 14 under par through 11 holes, while Rory McIlroy slipped well behind the front runners following a difficult stretch in the third round.
Chacarra, the Spanish golfer, picked up where he left off by adding four birdies in the first seven holes of his third round, building on a second-round 67 that included seven birdies. Play was suspended due to fading light with Chacarra two shots clear of Angel Hidalgo and Joost Luiten, and seven holes of his round still to complete.
McIlroy, chasing an eighth Harry Vardon Trophy and aiming to match Colin Montgomerie's record, was 10 shots back after a third-round wobble. After birdying the penultimate hole of his second round and opening his third with another birdie, McIlroy’s momentum faltered. He bogeyed the third and fourth holes consecutively, missing a short putt on the fourth. A double bogey at the sixth followed when a chip from thick rough barely moved. Although he responded with a birdie at the next hole, bogeys at the ninth and tenth holes compounded his troubles.
McIlroy ended the day with an eagle from a greenside bunker on the 14th, but that only brought him to a share of 40th place with three holes remaining. The Northern Irishman’s scoreline reflected a difficult day in New Delhi as he fell behind in the Race to Dubai rankings, with Chacarra and Patrick Reed ahead.
Patrick Reed, who barely made the cut at level par, finished Saturday six under par and sits second in the season-long standings, just behind Chacarra. McIlroy trails them both, now in third place.
Scott Jamieson of Scotland was positioned three shots off the lead at 11 under par, facing 25 holes on Sunday after play was suspended. England’s Todd Clements and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin were one shot further back.
Reigning champion Tommy Fleetwood posted a 9-under total and was tied with Italy’s Gregorio De Leo for the best scores among players who completed their rounds. Dan Bradbury and Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre, the latter with five holes remaining, were one shot behind them. Shane Lowry and Laurie Canter were among the players at seven under.
The tournament has seen significant weather delays earlier in the week, which pushed completion of the second round into Saturday morning. Despite those interruptions, Chacarra has maintained a strong hold on the lead.
McIlroy’s challenge to equal Montgomerie’s record for the Harry Vardon Trophy now depends on regaining ground in the final round, with a substantial deficit to overcome as he resumes play on Sunday.
According to Yahoo Sports.
